Enhanced micro bubble device, system and methods related thereto

Abstract

A device for enhanced generation of microbubbles in a more efficient manner is provided. The device is smaller, quieter, and more energy-efficient than prior microbubble-generating devices, and is suitable for use with liquid dispensing devices such as hydrotherapy jets, shower heads, liquid nozzles, and bathtub faucets. Methods of use of the enhanced microbubble system are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A microbubble system interconnected with a basin for circulating fluid therethrough, comprising:
 a pressure vessel with a top end and a bottom end, the pressure vessel comprising a lower portion containing a fluid and an upper portion containing a gas, and further comprising an outlet at the bottom end of the pressure vessel; 
 a microbubble device enclosed within the pressure vessel, such that the microbubble device remains fully submerged in fluid, the microbubble device comprising at least one gas supply line and at least one fluid inlet for supplying both gas and fluid to the microbubble device; 
 a self-priming pump configured to provide a consistent volume of fluid to the pressure vessel; 
 wherein microbubbles are generated within the pressure vessel by the microbubble device receiving gas from the at least one gas supply line, which maintains a volume of gas in the upper portion of the pressure vessel, and receiving a fluid from the at least one fluid inlet, and combining the fluid and the gas within the microbubble device; 
 wherein the combined fluid and gas exits the microbubble device through openings located in the bottom of the microbubble device; and 
 wherein the outlet at the bottom end of the pressure vessel is configured to receive the microbubble-entrained liquid from the pressure vessel and dispense the microbubble-entrained liquid. 
 
     
     
       2. The microbubble system of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet at the bottom of the pressure vessel comprises at least one of a microbubble nozzle and a Venturi injector. 
     
     
       3. The microbubble system of  claim 1 , wherein the self-priming pump is a booster pump for circulating a domestic water supply received from a domestic water supply inlet. 
     
     
       4. The microbubble system of  claim 1 , further comprising a gas inlet, wherein the gas inlet is located on at least one of an outlet of the pump and an inlet of the pump, and wherein the gas inlet comprises an injector. 
     
     
       5. The microbubble system of  claim 1 , further comprising a gas inlet, wherein the gas inlet is located on at least one of an inlet of the pressure vessel and an inlet line feeding the pressure vessel. 
     
     
       6. The microbubble system of  claim 1 , further comprising an injector configured to inject a fluid additive either into the liquid before the liquid enters the pressure vessel or into the microbubble-entrained liquid dispensed from the outlet at the bottom of the pressure vessel. 
     
     
       7. The microbubble system of  claim 1 , wherein the combined gas and fluid exiting the microbubble device is dispensed from the outlet at the bottom of the pressure vessel and then dispensed through a stimulating nozzle, wherein the stimulating nozzle is configured to stimulate the gas and fluid mixture and supply one or more outlets on a wall or a floor of the basin. 
     
     
       8. The microbubble system of  claim 7 , wherein the basin is selected from the group consisting of a bathtub, a shower, a hot tub, a swimming pool, a plunge pool, a foot bath, a sink, a trough, a wash basin, a washing machine, a dishwasher, an irrigation ditch, a well, and a spray gun reservoir. 
     
     
       9. The microbubble system of  claim 1 , further comprising an attachment interconnected to the outlet at the bottom of the pressure vessel and configured to receive the microbubble-entrained liquid. 
     
     
       10. The microbubble system of  claim 9 , wherein the attachment is selected from the group consisting of a hair brush, an ear/nose/mouth outlet, a faucet outlet, a handheld wand, a basin, a massager, a handheld scrubber, a soaking vessel, a facial cleansing brush, a multi-outlet jet port, a vessel wall-mounting outlet, and a facial outlet device. 
     
     
       11. A microbubble system, comprising:
 a fluid inlet for supplying at least one liquid to the system; 
 a gas inlet comprising an injector located upstream from a pressure vessel; 
 a self-priming pump for circulating liquid to the pressure vessel and throughout the system; 
 the pressure vessel comprising an internal volume and configured to receive the at least one liquid from the fluid inlet with gas received from the gas inlet; 
 a microbubble device contained within the pressure vessel and configured to generate microbubbles from the gas and the liquid received within the pressure vessel to form a microbubble-entrained liquid; 
 a microbubble nozzle outlet, interconnected to the pressure vessel and configured to receive and dispense the microbubble-entrained liquid into the pressure vessel; 
 wherein the pressure vessel is configured to maintain a volume of gas in an upper portion of the pressure vessel, and a volume of fluid in a lower portion of the pressure vessel; and 
 wherein the microbubble device is configured to generate microbubbles by entraining gas received from the volume of gas in an upper portion of the pressure vessel with the volume of fluid in a lower portion of the pressure vessel. 
 
     
     
       12. The microbubble system of  claim 11 , wherein the microbubble device is sealed within the pressure vessel and positioned such that the microbubble device is completely submerged in the volume of fluid in a lower portion of the pressure vessel. 
     
     
       13. The microbubble system of  claim 11 , configured to interconnect to a vessel selected from the group consisting of a bathtub, a shower, a hot tub, a swimming pool, a plunge pool, a foot bath, a sink, a trough, a wash basin, a washing machine, a dishwasher, an irrigation ditch, and a well. 
     
     
       14. The microbubble system of  claim 11 , further comprising a second injector configured to inject a fluid additive into the pressure vessel or into the microbubble-entrained liquid dispensed from the microbubble nozzle outlet. 
     
     
       15. The microbubble system of  claim 14 , wherein the fluid additive comprises at least one of a nutrient and a sanitizing agent. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microbubble device further comprises a shroud that enhances microbubble production and gas transfer into the liquid by continuously breaking down bubbles produced within the pressure vessel and creating a larger volume of microbubbles within the liquid, and wherein the pressure vessel maintains the volume of gas at a positive pressure causing excess microbubbles to rise and pass over the shroud until the liquid within the microbubble device is sufficiently entrained with gas. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microbubble device is partially hollow and consists of one inlet for supplying fluid and one inlet for supplying gas to the hollow portion of the microbubble device, wherein the fluid and the gas are mixed together and the fluid is entrained with the gas to create microbubbles, and wherein the gas entrained liquid exits an outlet at the bottom of the microbubble device and into the pressure vessel. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the liquid is dispensed in a basin, and then recirculated through the system by an inlet attached to a wall or the floor of the basin. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18  further comprising a domestic water supply inlet for supplying a domestic water supply to the system, and wherein the system further comprises a booster pump for providing the domestic water supply. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the internal volume of the pressure vessel comprises about 90% liquid by volume and about 10% of gas by volume.